'Playing Under Hardik Does Not Make Rohit Smaller': Navjot Singh Sidhu on Pandya-Sharma Dynamic

Time passes, change takes place, yet one’s achievements will stand the test of time. Navjot Singh Sidhu would agree, as the former Indian cricketer expounded on the legacy of Rohit Sharma and the recent switch of captaincy to Hardik Pandya in the camps of the Mumbai Indians.

Rohit had led MI from the front for a decade since taking up the title in 2013 till 2023, until very recently when the veteran skipper had to give up the reins to returning Hardik Pandya.

Pandya, who captained Gujarat Titans for the past two seasons, made a dramatic return to Mumbai this past off-season, in a trade. And upon his arrival, the Indian team skipper stepped back from the role and let Pandya take the mantle.

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“I have played in an Indian team where five captains used to pay together. Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri. Pick up a brick and you will find a captain both above and below it. There were no issues because they were playing for their nation. The motivation was to play for your country. So, playing under Hardik does not make Rohit smaller,” stated Sidhu in a match analysis for Star Sports.

Rohit has cemented his legacy as one of the most decorated captains in the history of the IPL, having clinched 5 titles with MI in his 10-year tenure as their skipper. In fact, Rohit is tied with the legendary MS Dhoni of CSK, for having clinched the most IPL titles as captain.

Sidhu stated that the passing of the baton by veteran skippers such as Dhoni and Rohit is a move in the right direction for the future of the franchise, and that their legacies shall remain cemented regardless. So, any reason for the dynamic to cause any rift would be non-plausible.

“Dhoni has passed the baton already and that could have happened in Mumbai Indians as well. But this is a franchise and they look at the performances. They gave it three years and when it did not work, they got a new person for the job. You need to accept it.”

“But, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are great players. A dwarf is a dwarf even if he is standing at the top of a mountain and a God is a God even if they are standing at the bottom of a well,” exclaimed Sidhu.

Mumbai Indians will face off against the Sunrisers Hyderabad today as both teams remain in search for the first win of the new IPL 2024 season.